The gist: A global issue is a real-world concern that is significant (big), transnational (crosses borders) and locally felt (seen in everyday life). It's the spine of your Individual Oral.
One small moment can point to a huge issue.
“My gran can't get online to book her doctor.”
That tiny scene points to a worldwide concern:how going digital leaves some people behind. Big, felt across countries, but visible in one person's day. That's a global issue.
The 3-property test
Significant
Wide impact — it matters beyond one person or plot event.
Transnational
Crosses borders — felt in more than one country, not just one town.
Locally felt
You can see it in the specific detail of a real text.
Big · Crosses borders · Felt in real life
The 5 fields to hunt in
- Culture, identity and community — belonging, language, gender.
- Beliefs, values and education — what we're taught, faith, right and wrong.
- Politics, power and justice — freedom, protest, fairness, who has a voice.
- Art, creativity and imagination — who tells stories, and why.
- Science, technology and the environment — nature, machines, progress.
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Why it matters in the exam: In the Individual Oral you examine one global issue across two works. A narrow issue that passes the 3-property test keeps your talk focused.
Is “the pressure young people feel to look perfect online” a good global issue? Test it against the three properties.
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: Too broad (‘the environment’) or too local (one street) both fail. Aim for a focused, worldwide concern.